VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:President Chavez has announced full support for a proposal made by Mexican President, Felipe Calderon at the Rio Group meeting in Brazil to create a new block integrating Latin American and Caribbean countries. Cuba has joined the group but its President Raul Castro has made it clear that whatever the outcome of new relations with the United States, Cuba will not return to the Organisation of American States (OAS ). Chavez says the new Latin American bloc is already acting bilaterally with countries, such as Russia, India and Iran, adding that it is the direction that they must continue to advance towards.
At a meeting of the Southern Cone Economic Zone (Mercosur) in Brazil, member country presidents have ratified the importance of strengthening regional integration to meet the international economic crisis head on. At the short meeting the heads of state did not sign a proposed agreement to eliminate double taxation and set up a common customs code. However, they did announce the setting up of a guarantee fund for micro, small and medium companies, and trade preference agreement for Southern African countries, as well as an extended trading agreement with Chile to include service sectors. Other decisions included a proposal by Mercosur and Venezuela to absorb exports that Bolivia could not send to the USA after Washington decided to suspend a preference agreement with that country because of its alleged non-collaboration in the war on drugs.
Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) has refused to take back trade union leader, Orlando Chirinos, despite an order from the Labor Ministry to return him to his old job and pay salaries and other benefits that he ceased to enjoy after being sacked on December 28, 2007. The C-Cura trade union tendency within the National Workers Union (UNT) confirmed the news in a public statement. On December 9, Chirinos turned up for work with a Labor Ministry official. According to the union leader, a PDVSA legal representative met them at the door to inform them that the ministry order was illegal and that the company would lodge a nullity plea for six months. Chirinos accuses PDVSA and trade union bureaucracy as well as employees and corrupt sectors of working against revolutionaries and defenders of the working class inside state companies.
Venezuelan students studying abroad under the Fundayacucho higher studies program have organized scholarship councils in France, Germany and Spain. Students studying in other European countries are expected to follow suite on the invitation of local embassies.
The Bolivarian National Armed Force says 230 clandestine air strips in different parts of Venezuela have been destroyed this year. Operational and Strategic Command chief, General Jesus Gonzalez Gonzalez claims that the run ways were being used by narco-traffickers. The General made a statement during a traditional Christmas visit to the military garrison in Barcelona. According to military sources, the destruction of the illegal air strips is greater this year than last and full statistics are expected to be announced at the end of the year.
Metropolitan Mayor, Antonio Ledezma has sworn in his security advisory council, promising to present a security plan that will incorporate the five municipalities of Caracas shortly. The advisory committee will be headed by opposition criminologist, Fermin Marmol Leon and the new plan will be discussed by security representatives from the five municipalities. Ledezma has also promised to pay labor liabilities left by the former administration but insists the measure will not cover people who are receiving wages without working. Ledezma and his team are preparing a final report on the administrative record of the former mayor, which will be made public and backed by corresponding documents. As regards the garbage problem, the new mayor says he is dealing with problems at La Bonanza landfill and attempting to reach agreement between the five municipalities.
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) announces that it will hand the National Assembly (AN) 5 million signatures in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment, allowing President Chavez to run for elections in 2010. The announcement was made by PSUV leader and lawyer, Carlos Escarra, who says the first group of signatures will be presented tomorrow, Thursday. The lawyer maintains that by January 5, which ends the second part of the campaign, the party hopes to present a significant quantity of further votes.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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